Hello All!

This is Jen.  :)  I wish I were inspired to write something motivational, but it just isn't coming to me.  So, I hope you will enjoy hearing about my day.  :)  Today was another very good day at Operation Love The Children of Haiti Orphanage (OLTCH).  Not only did we get a lot done with the building project, but I also had a lot of fun with the children!

My day started with jumping rope with some of the bigger girls and then holding a couple of the little girls.  Very sweet - they just wanted to snuggle.  :)  I particularly enjoyed this as yesterday I didn't get to spend much time with the girls.  I loved a little girl named Valencia...maybe in part because she first told me her name was Mansa!  She had a big smile on her face every time I saw her - how can that not make you happy!?

Today we worked on putting walls up on the floor we finished yesterday.  By lunch we had the long wall completely up!  It's looking more and more like a house.

After lunch I spent some time with some of the boys.  First, we read a story (something about Big Bird learning to share).  But what really had them smiling and having fun was some races.  They were intrigued with my watch, so I showed them how we could use it to time things.  Eventually, Shari had the boys all lined up at the starting line, and I stood at the finish timing them...doing everything from running, skipping, jumping, leapfrog, etc.  They loved it!

Later, Danielle got out a craft for the boys to work on (yesterday, Jackie told the story of Esther and had the girls making crowns).  They made "Who is my neighbor?" puppets...complete with googly eyes, pompon noses, a wagging tongue, and curly hair.  We were all impressed with how good the boys were and how nice a job they did coloring clothes on them.  Many of them "dressed" them in "church clothes" - very cute!  Then, I showed them how to crouch down behind the table so that we could only see the puppet.  They had the puppets singing "B-I-N-G-O", "Jesus Loves Me", and "Jesus Loves the Little Children"...in both English and Creole.  A little taste of heaven!

After another long day in the heat, we quit a little earlier today.  Us Minnesotans aren't used to working in the 90+ degree weather and high humidity...especially in early April.  However, by the time we left, we had up both side walls with most of the plywood up on one - not bad.  We will be back tomorrow for part of the day.  Should for sure get the walls done...and maybe a start on the roof.  :)

As we were leaving, some of the girls were using the scraps of wood to build their own fort.  They are very creative!  Looking forward to more time with them tomorrow.  :)

Thanks for all the prayers - keep 'em coming!
Blessings,
Jen